STAR-PISHES IN THE MORAV FRITH. 231 



few years ago, entangled in the salmon nets near Banff^ and is now preserved 

 by Mr. Lemon, bird-stuffer, Macduff". 



Red Gurnard, (Trigla cuculus,) is frequently met with. 



Sapphirine Gurnard, (Trigla hirundo.) — A beautiful specimen was brought 

 me a few days ago. I am told by the fishermen that they occasionally 

 meet with them of two feet in length. 



Gray Gurnard, (Trigla Gurnardus,) is common. 



The Gurnards are popularly known by the name of ^Croonacks' in this 

 part of the country. 



father- Lasher, 'Gundie,' (Cottus Bubalis.) — Very common. 



Rough-tailed Stickleback, 'Bandie,' (Gasterosteus trachurus,) is most abundant 

 both in the salt and in the fresh-water. Occasionally I keep a few for 

 several weeks in a basin of water, and take great pleasure in watching their 

 changes of colour. Sometimes they are of a light greenish gray colour, 

 sometimes of a pale green, sometimes of an almost black, and sometimes of 

 a variegated colour. It is really a beautiful sight to watch so many differently 

 coloured tiny creatures sporting in all the luxuriance of happy life. It makes 

 one forget his trials and pains, and sport along with them. I have observed 

 a peculiar position they assume at times, particularly on supplying them with 

 fresh water. They rise with their heads to the surface, inclining at about 

 an angle of 45° and move round and round the basin, snapping with their 

 mouths as if catching flies. At such times the nose assumes a reddish tinge, 

 and the inside of the mouth is blood red. Is this red colour intended to 

 imitate flesh, and serve as a decoy for flies? 



The Fifteen- spined Stickleback, (Gasterosteus spinachia.) — Very common, 

 though not so plentiful as the last. In this part^ Macduff, it goes by the strange 

 name of ^Willie Wanbeard.' 



Mackerel, (Scomber Scomber.) — Rather plentiful during some seasons, and 

 during others scarce. 



Macduff, June lith., 1854. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES ON" STAR-FISHES FOUND IN THE 

 MORAY FRITH, AT MACDUFF, NEAR BANFF. 



BY W. 



Common Sand Star, (Ophiura texturata.) — This Star-Fish is common, though 

 not to such a degree as some of the following: — A large and pretty complete 

 specimen was brought me some time ago; it is of a pale reddish colour 

 above, and white below. The disk is one inch and an eighth in diameter, 

 and is pentangular. Professor Forbes says the disk is round, and the largest 

 he ever saw was nine-tenths of an inch broad. On examining the figure in 

 his "Star-Fishes^" I find no appearance of cirrhi at the roots of the ravs 



VOL. IV. 2 II 



